Whoa.
Is that him?
Yeah.
How you know?
Because I drug him around my horse till he told me.
Looks like somebody ran away from home.
Somebody with a big mouth.
I'll go back.
Talk to him.
I ain't gone mad or none.
All right.
Let's get on with it, shall we?
I got money.
Ain't enough.
How do you know?
It's never enough.
I got something.
I got something real valuable.
Show me.
Here we go.
I got that thing.
Here it is.
Did you check his pocket?
It's your own damn fault, then, ain't it?
The necklace for you, too.
Oh, my God.
Close.
But it ain't God you got all riled up.
It's worse.
It's said that a great sickness took hold of the country that summer of 1849.
Taking Christian and Heathen with equal justice, and killing horse, cow,
and anything with four legs, almost as swiftly as the outlaw John Glanton and his
murderous gang, who were slaughtering their way across the
western territories in search of valuable scout bounties.
But this is not his story of evil.
There was another.
That's all I got.
We've been through this, Miss Abraham.
Worthington?
You know that well as the next.
You signed the papers.
Yes, Miss Worthington.
Like I was saying, we've been through this, and
ain't no one going to escort you nowhere right now.
And that's fact.
Want to count on me being a slave?
Slate?
Engine?
Two-headed Mexican?
Don't matter, it's Jake.
It ain't safe out there right now.
And you know that, no matter how much silver you got.
What about you?
Surely this town can survive five days without
just a steady hand on the Till of Justice deputy?
Acting Sheriff Miss Worthington, you know that well as the next,
has been since Sheriff Buford went missing.
She needs help.
Well, I'll see to it.
Doc Steelbender comes to take a look at her as soon as
he is fully conscious in the possession of his faculties.
Ain't that right, Doc?
Now, you know that's not the kind of help I'm talking about.
I need to get her to Ross Corner.
How about it, Doc?
A little paid excursion?
Look after Miss Worthington?
A man can't look after himself.
And you can't travel alone?
I'm not alone.
And how is she with a pistol?
Now, I suggest you take that little girl of yours home before she causes a stir.
You know you're not supposed to be in town with her.
It's a superstitious lot we have here.
And you remember what happened the last time they got riled up.
Thank you for your time.
Acting Sheriff.
The food is still here for five or six days and you can fill the bladders out
back where the pump is as long as she doesn't touch anything.
Much appreciated.
I also need to get this telegraphed to Ross Corner, alert the
preacher that I'm on my way and in need of his assistance.
You are in touch with Ross Corner, are you not, Mr. Grayson?
I'll see what I can do.
Oh, Miss Howard, pleased to see you.
I wish I could say the same.
Yes, well, we were just in town picking up a few supplies.
Then you come alone.
Or not at all.
That was the agreement.
Yes, ma'am.
You bring that thing into town one more time and I'll have you both strung up.
On charges, that is.
That was the curing business, Doc.
Not as good as the dying business.
Well, at least the sickness seems to have abated.
The shame it took so many.
What's in Ross Corner?
Why don't you ask her?
I reckon I'm not curious.
Is that all there is?
Tell me, Pender, what's it like to be a doctor who can't save a life?
I'll let you know next time you find yourself sick.
Would you like to recite us a little scripture, Edward?
Oh, I certainly would, Miss Sarah.
But you know, I'm much of a reciter.
I'm more of a listener.
But you know what I heard the other day outside the general?
I heard this Tubman woman, she's been building a railroad under the ground for years.
All this time, they've been worried about the slaves escaping topside, and she just
goes and builds a railroad under the ground.
The ground like that sure is sunrise.
Is that so?
It certainly is so.
Because the two gents playing checkers are on the porch, said it was.
And I believe that it was both speaking truth.
Although, I have to admit, the gent with the whiskers did seem to be using this
conversation as a distraction mechanism, which made
the other gent miss several jumps and a king me.
But I believed his words nonetheless.
And you know what else I heard?
How about we save the rest of the morning.
It's getting a little late, I have some things to prepare.
Yes, ma'am.
Come on, Flapjack.
Let's get you in your jammies.
So your mama can tuck you in.
All snug as a bug.
Which is a funny expression if you ask me, because I've never seen a snug bug.
Especially not in a rug, which is the part of
the expression that I seem to have left off.
All right.
I need you to get a good night's sleep, because we're gonna go on a long trip.
And I need you to be brave, okay?
I need you to be a big girl.
How about a smell, phenomena?
Papa?
I don't feel right, Papa.
Fell off your horse in the middle of town again, Doc.
Speaking of tongues, like some kind of lunatic.
Yeah, won't happen again.
No, it certainly will not.
Oh, sad water.
What a pleasant surprise.
Mr. Steelbender.
Doctor.
Questionable.
Tell me, why are you here?
Not this jail.
We all know you are an inebriate.
Why here, this town?
I don't know.
I suppose after the army I wanted a clean start.
I was tired of guns and killing people.
Seems you've succeeded in killing people without any guns, Mr. Steelbender.
Doctor.
Hmm.
The town has decided its time you moved along.
The whole town decided that, or is it just you?
I'm calling a note.
I ain't behind.
You are now.
As of this minute.
Unless you can pay in full.
I thought not.
One week.
See to it that the good doctor has departed by the deputy.
Acting sheriff.
She can't do that.
I'm afraid she can.
Well, I ain't digging up my whole family for that old witch.
She ain't the law.
She's the bank.
Even better.
Promise me you won't go doing something stupid.
I can't.
Why?
Where are you off to?
To do something stupid.
I'm not a very good shot, but I reckon at this range I don't have to be.
I'd rather not test that theory.
It's better.
Well, what you want?
Take care of it on your offer.
We can leave it sunrise, but I expect half up front.
Sunrise it is.
Come on, we gotta go.
Let's get a move on.
Gotcha.
What are you doing here, you scowl druid?
Get off me.
Don't you lie to me, because I saw you sneak around here last night like so.
Kind of nefarious character.
I even recognize your voice on account of the fact that I'm a good listener.
I bet you didn't know there's a little drum in each one of our ears.
Get off me, you idiot!
Did you call me?
Stop it, please.
Call you an idiot.
He don't mean no harm.
He works the farm.
This is his... Edward, Edward T.
Yott is pleased to miss you.
Edward, that his doctor's still been there.
He's agreed to escort me on a little journey, so I might be gone for a while.
Oh, gone?
Gone where?
Just keep doing what you're doing, all right?
And I need you to put these documents in a safe place.
They mean nobody can take our ranch away.
Well, why would anyone try his pot-headed thing as that, Miss Sarah?
This here ranch, it's your sure as sunrise.
Mr. Worthington, I mean, he gave it to you on his deathbed.
God rest his soul.
And now, I'm bestowing it to you.
In case I don't come back, you understand?
I'm not certain I do, Miss Sarah.
Take good care of the ranch.
And if anybody asks any questions, show them these handpapers.
Okay, I'm still struggling with something.
You said a couple phrases back.
I could have sworn you said, in case I don't come back, and that just must be me
misreading the verbal situation, because you always come back, Miss Sarah.
Sure, sunrise.
Remember what I said, Edward.
Sweet pea, let's get a move on now.
Mr. Worthington, set for me to look after you.
What kind of name is that?
Edward Yacht.
Name he came with.
Name he came with?
Mr. Worthington took him in after his wife passed.
Found him out living on the streets with the pigs.
Asked him his name.
Edward goes, people call me idiot.
Without raising an eyebrow, Mr. Worthington says, well, it's the right
proud name, but I don't much camp the nicknames like Eddie, so from here on out,
your name's gonna be Edward Yacht, not Eddie Yacht.
Mr. Worthington was a good man.
He could be.
Is that why he took his name?
A man frees a slave should take his name.
What's the custom?
You know where we're headed?
Mm-hmm.
It's somewhat...
That big part just, you don't strike me as much of a frontiersman.
Not much of a doctor, neither.
You stay where I can see you, all right?
So?
So what?
So we gonna talk about it.
There ain't nothing to talk about.
I just never got to offer my condolences, is all.
I mean, I took no life like that.
Lord knows my Joseph was no saint, but your wife... your wife was a good woman.
Yeah, she was.
Until she wasn't.
Whereas a lily joyous and brief light of that prairie home was she.
Everyone who knew her felt the gentle power of Rosalie the prairie flower.
What's so important in Ross Corner?
Come on now, doctor.
Everyone within a hundred miles knows about my little girl.
You think the doctor there's gonna help?
No.
If I thought a doctor could help, I would've taken it to you.
Going to see preacher Ross.
What, and he's gonna cure her?
He gonna save her.
He's got the touch.
She's got the devil.
Powerful one, make no mistake.
You sound like those crackpots in town.
She's a carrier, is all.
You're smart to keep those hand covers on her.
Keep the sickness contained.
She's no more wicked than you or me.
You don't believe in the devil, doctor?
I wish I did, and maybe I believe in the good Lord, too.
It's tall tales and fiction, designed to get us through the night.
No better than a campfire.
Hmm.
Toss your steel this way and things won't get a mess.
Gibson!
Took you long enough.
Button it.
All right, let's get you over to your...
proper owner.
Ain't his nothing.
I'm a free woman.
Well... Well, you hear that, Gibson?
She's a... she's a free woman.
Free as a feather.
Well, I reckon you're free to go, then.
Ain't that right?
Didn't think so.
Well, she's a quiet one.
What's wrong with you, little birdcat, got your tongue?
Oh, they want to stand.
Okay, stand.
Come on.
Stand.
Stand up.
Okay.
Toss your food bag.
Toss it to him.
Now the water.
No.
Take off him clothes.
Seems your ears are working.
All of it.
All right.
We're gonna take your things.
But we're gonna leave your horses so you can get on home.
Because that's what a mannered person does.
But to make sure you ain't gonna follow, we're gonna take this little bird with us.
No!
You always wanted me a little girl.
I'm very womanly in that way.
Don't.
You waited a day.
We're gonna let her loose by the ravine about two miles west of here.
But if you come looking for her before, let's
just say, ain't gonna be much left to find.
And that is a promise, bullet to Bible.
You call yourself a woman.
Maybe I do.
Maybe I don't.
Perhaps you'd prefer if I now was a man.
Is that it?
Come on.
Show me.
Go ahead.
Go.
Call yourself.
We ain't gonna tag her to the ravine.
We're gonna drop her in it.
Gotcha.
Come on, get!
It's gonna be tender for a while.
Turn over.
That's the best I can do without any water.
She take everything?
Yeah.
We'll find some on the way.
We're turning back.
What you mean?
Ain't no quitting over a couple thieves.
They weren't thieves.
These weren't leave those horses.
They were after you, girl.
Why?
Why would they be after her?
I don't know.
Maybe you should ask him.
Think he's all right?
It was his choice to follow.
I just want to make sure he's okay.
He had the wind knocked out of him, is all.
But of course don't mean he's okay.
You know what else I heard?
A few years back, the United States government lay claim
to a place at the top of the world called Antarctica.
And that entire country is made of ice.
Imagine that whole country made of ice.
I said we'd bring some of that ice down here right
now and then we'd all have us plenty of water.
That's what I say.
Because, you know, ice is just frozen water.
Maybe you should send your breath, Edward.
Don't you worry, Miss Sarah.
I could pedal this here bone shaker all day, but I have to.
It seems I do at the moment.
I cannot ride a horse if the heavens depended on it.
As I mentioned in truth, there weren't a horse
on the farm that were flying dead in the dirt.
You go right on ahead, Doc Steelbender.
I could keep up as long as I could see you.
I'm pretty good at following tracks.
She needs water.
Well, we ain't gonna find an outstanding idol.
I might climb that butte and take a look around.
You wait here for the simpleton.
Edward.
Right, Mr. Yacht.
Edward.
You think it was the Indians did that?
I don't think nothing.
All I know is we need to find a different way around.
Won't make it another day in this heat.
I'm wearing a situation.
Weren't your fault, you know?
I used to blame myself, thinking there was something I did to drive him into her
arms, but there was just moss to a flame, is what I think.
I'd rather not discuss the matter.
You think that's gonna make it like it didn't happen.
What, put a feed bag over your head?
Well, it did.
Weren't your fault and weren't mine.
It was his and hers.
Well, they surely paid for it, didn't they?
I'm sorry.
She couldn't look me in the eye once the shame set in.
I had to pry this out of her fingers when I found her by the river.
I could still smell a gunpowder in her ear.
Ain't no running from it, is it?
I think that's why I left that old loose up all these years.
My way of atoning.
To the lynch mob.
To you.
You best sleep, I'll keep a look.
That's it.
There we are.
That's all I got, I'm afraid.
Yeah.
I just want to take a look inside your mouth.
You open up your mouth for me?
I'm not going to hurt you.
I'll tell you what, if you let me take a little peek...
I'll let you hold this for a little while.
It used to belong to someone very special to me.
Can I take a look inside your mouth?
It's not going to hurt.
There we go.
Stop them.
Found a way around.
Get up.
Hey, you ever hear about the game they play up in New York City?
In their pajamas?
Seems a bunch of grown men standing around in a field whacking a ball with a stick.
That's running around like school children.
Call themselves the Knickerbockers.
I examined her, you know.
I told you, it ain't that kind of sickness.
I didn't see any sign of the devil, neither.
Now you're just trying to get a rise.
People come from all over, pay money, watch you do it...
like going to the circus to see a two-headed goat.
All I know is some preacher hocus-pocus thinks I make a damn bit of difference.
I heard he held a bullet hole just by touching it.
Tall tales of fiction.
If you had a goat who whacked a ball with a stick, that'd be something I'd pay to see.
Especially if it was wearing pajamas.
Edward!
It's gonna be all right, Ian.
Ian.
Breathe this in.
Breathe in.
Breathe it in.
All right.
Sorry, Doc.
I do tend to go on a bit, don't I?
Excuse us.
We're looking for some water.
Boy, now, that's something we have plenty of.
Stand and get these folks some water.
Can't you see they're about to drop?
Easy now.
Not so fast.
There, now, little girls got the hang of it.
We appreciate your hospitality.
Oh, there's plenty of food there for everyone.
But not till it's cooked and ready.
Got enough troubles without everyone getting the food sick.
What's wrong with them?
Well, Emma there, my niece, just saved too much life the best I can describe it.
Stanton?
Well, he's my eldest and I just got tired of looking at him, I suppose.
You know, he got the sickness a while back and just keeps getting worse and worse.
Don't know how much longer he's got, but judging by the liquid oozing out of
him, I'd say maybe a week or two.
Ain't that right, Stanton?
Well, now that we're all acquainted, if you don't mind, I'd like you to put
your weapons over there near the barrel.
That's where we keep ours when they're not in use.
Ah, I might hang on to mine if you don't mind.
Got some cinnamon attached to that?
It's the last thing my wife ever held.
Well, we can't take that away from a man now, can we?
If you don't mind, Stanton will hold on to his too.
Got some cinnamon there as well.
Ain't that right, Stanton?
Well, look at us, all civilized and such.
Name's Maggie.
Now, I'd ask yours, but I have a feeling I wouldn't get a straight answer.
Much appreciated.
What brings you out this way, ma'am?
We're them horses.
Till they died and we ate them.
That's a forgiven old woman.
A piece of humor.
There ain't been much to talk to out here.
Now we come out west for gold.
I know all about the rush for gold.
I heard in February a whole boatload of people pulled right up on the sands of
Frisco and dropped all fours and started digging before
they even had a proper meal or washed their armpits.
Yes, gold fever.
Mm-hmm.
We caught it as well.
Started out with twelve wagons of proper family.
Now it's just us.
Got plenty of water, but that there's less the food.
What happened?
Well, I'm not so sure where to start on that.
We survived two onslaught.
The first one, most of the men was killed.
Just outright butchered.
Being scalped is probably as close to being raped as a man will ever get.
Just having the flesh ripped off the top of your head like that.
Them engines is an inhuman set of creatures, you ask me.
The second attack was worse.
Mostly because it was inflicted on us by white men.
Descendant on us like a posse from hell.
Just whooping and hollering.
Worse than any engine.
Leader had black eyes.
Like a doll.
They raped all the women.
Killed all the horses.
Maybe they raped the horses too, wouldn't surprise me.
But they left us alone on account of Santa.
It seems like the one thing that everybody respects is the sickness.
Ahem.
And then...
they just vanished.
Took all the scalps they could collect...
and disappeared like vapor.
Never knew who they were.
Maybe they was ghosts.
Just gonna relieve myself.
I think the good Lord sent you to us.
That's what I think.
And I think that...
with some food in your belly and a good night's sleep...
we're gonna be like one big family.
That's what I think.
Here you go, darling.
Bless you.
I have some for you.
Thank you.
And come on with me.
Oh, no, no.
That's fine.
She's on.
No, you're not gonna deny an old woman the small pleasure holding a child.
My goodness.
There you go.
All right.
Now let us give thanks.
Amen.
Don't eat that.
Leave it.
What's wrong?
Nothing's wrong.
We're just leaving is all.
It appears that your friend ain't too fond of my cooking.
I don't blame him.
Emma ain't too fond of it neither, poor girl.
There was no choice.
It was God's truth.
Gather up the girl and let's be on her way.
No, you sit down right where you are.
And I'd appreciate you not pointing your gun at my son.
Now, the fact of the matter is, you may get a shot
off before he does in his current state of affairs.
But not before I twist this little rabbit's neck.
And I can assure you, my state of affairs is quite acute.
Intelligent decision.
We may make it out west after all.
Ain't that right, Stanton?
In the morning, we're gonna hitch up all horses.
And who knows, maybe your hunting luck is better than ours,
and we won't have to resort to any unfortunate measures.
And you'd best be great.
A less refined group of individuals might simply choose to leave you behind to...
leave you behind to...
Mama?
What'd you do?
What'd you do to her?
Pardon the intrusion.
I suggest we depart immediately.
We call this irony.
I thought it was a buzzard.
Thank you again for allowing me to accompany you.
We're the ones to be grateful.
Is it our chief?
William.
William Shakespeare.
Is that so?
It is.
Why have you been tracking us, Mr. Shakespeare?
I needed travelling companions.
Preferably white.
Safer that way.
What happened to your people?
My people vanquished me.
I thought when engines vanquished you, they'd do it with a blade.
You are a suspicious man.
Only when it comes to engines?
I assure you, it's not the engines you should be concerned about.
Oh, my God.
Oh, forgive me.
It's quite all right, ma'am.
The quits are not for the most part peaceful farmers.
When they took me in, they were dazzled by my verbal skills.
Thought I could protect them.
But they were wrong.
There was no negotiating with the White Riders.
Only running.
And after the slaughter...
my people banished me.
So they could not return unless I bring stronger magic.
What kind of magic?
Bakutal.
What's a bakutal?
More of a who, lad.
Bakutal is the evil half of the great quits on creator, Quakamot.
His dark twin, if you will.
Legend has it that Bakutal was born blind, and this angered him, so he unleashed a
great evil onto the world and disappeared into hiding.
The quits don't believe that Bakutal still walks amongst us in disguise.
And if captured, his spirit can be harnessed as a powerful magic.
A living talisman, if you will.
Perhaps that magic talisman of yours can find us some water.
Wait here.
I don't trust him.
You don't trust nobody.
You know, the first time I saw an engine, I was... Shut up.
Whoo!
Come on, Clapjack.
Last one in's a rotten road, Apple.
You'll have to be quicker than that.
These will make a fine stew.
No shepherd's pie, mind you.
You're probably wondering about my history, Dr. Steelbender.
Don't really concern me.
Don't come across many Indians who speak proper English, I'll wager.
I've not come across many English who speak proper English, neither.
Whit, you would do well in London, sir.
So where are you from?
My village was raided by trappers back when I was a boy.
French, horrible people.
Never bathed far as I could tell.
They rounded us up and sold us to the British.
Red savages, they called us.
I ended up in the custody of a naval officer named Wilkinson.
I went to work in the manor.
His wife was so kind to me.
On Sunday, she used to teach me the king's tongue.
If you're going to live with us, you're going
to be a proper gentleman, she used to say.
He even named me after her favorite author.
Well, like I said, it don't really concern me.
I didn't... I didn't mean nothing.
I swear I...
You know that, right?
I tear my heart out for your mom.
Just tear her right out of wood.
I suggest you keep your sight on dry.
I've seen a wet pistol blow a man's hand clean off.
You don't much care for my kind, do you, Doctor?
Well, on the contrary.
If it weren't for engines, I wouldn't be able to put food on the table.
There's not a lot of money in doctrine, but there's
certainly money in making change to lock-up engines.
Bit of a blacksmith, are you, Doctor?
What do I have to be?
There, see, now we're having a right proper conversation.
There's an old kitzone saying even the
stiffest reed will eventually bend to the wind.
We have a saying, too.
Some still won't bend.
Everything all right, April?
I don't believe I've ever seen you as quiet.
You're just tired, is all, Miss Sarah?
We're here.
Have some stew.
Our friend made it special.
Thank you, ma'am.
All right.
Eat up.
Get some rest.
We'll be at Ross Corner soon enough.
Thank you.
It's pretty good.
It needs a little something.
Uh-huh.
Never claimed to be a lady.
I don't drink.
Well, aren't you full of surprises, Doctor?
Still good.
I promise my daughter.
And Bender's fine.
All right.
Then,
where's Chief William?
I don't know.
He's out there somewhere.
I'll take a watch.
Still don't trust him.
Nope.
He hasn't killed us yet, so that's something.
I'll wait till you believe me now.
About what?
The old woman?
My girl?
I believe people get sick.
And judging by her companions, I'd say she was caring for a while.
You got it all figured out, don't you?
Well, all except him.
Why are you so attached to that half-wit?
I got my reasons.
Uh-huh.
Don't you call him no half-wit.
I'm just saying a fact.
He's sweet on you, you know.
Don't be silly.
A man has eyes.
What make you such an expert on people?
Because I'm a doctor.
I have a certificate and everything.
Okay.
You're such an expert on people.
Why you ain't got more of them around?
I forgot myself.
I'm sorry.
It don't matter.
So...
It's hard to say.
Edward...
was right after they hanged my Joseph.
Sheriff Buford came calling.
Asked who was responsible for such a crime.
Like he ain't know.
Said we should pray together.
That God would see justice done.
So we knelt.
Prayed in silence.
Next thing I know I'm on all fours.
With the good sheriff behind me serving up a dose of God's justice.
He would have killed me after.
If it weren't for Edward.
We buried him in the foothills.
Edward and me.
Sheriff's disappearance became a mystery and...
nine months later had me not baby girl.
White is chalk on bone.
Tonfolk whispered, but they...
they pretty much let us be.
Until people and animals started dying and...
the truth about my little girl started spreading.
Over truth and the lies coming out of Ross Corner.
What is the matter with you?
Why'd you even come with us?
I told you I needed the money.
Oh, you needed the money?
You needed the money?
Then here, take it.
I believe you have your contract.
I understand trying all you can to save what's yours.
That I couldn't do.
Tear my heart out.
For... you know I.
He said it right to our face.
Jesus, God damn talisman.
Hey, wake up.
Wake up.
We gotta go.
He took her.
We gotta find her.
I won't.
No, come on.
He's gone.
Let's go.
It was in bounty hunters, most likely.
Cause?
This was another tribe.
Cause?
At least he got his due.
The chief.
Not like the boy he meant to himself.
Of course.
Come on, sweet pea.
Let's get you all washed up.
Come on, come to mama.
Good girl.
Don't go too far.
Taking her down to the river.
No!
It's just a girl!
Sarah!
Stop!
That's far enough now.
You just turned right back to the river.
Back around.
Take that unholy creature with you.
Please.
Please don't work here.
If you noticed, I didn't use the word.
Now you best retreat.
And don't let her touch nothing on the way out.
All right.
That's enough posturing for one day.
Can't you see?
This fella's in need of some hospitality.
Welcome.
I'm Ross.
Preacher Ross or Doc Ross.
Whichever you prefer.
It makes no difference in the eyes of the Lord.
And I answered to both.
I know who you are, doctor.
And I know why you've come.
Let us help you.
We can carry this weight.
Fine.
Yes.
As you will.
All right.
Now you all know this child, huh?
And you've heard all the stories.
But this girl is not to be feared.
In truth, she's to be praised.
But she carries in her all that is wicked in this world.
And she soaked it in like a sponge.
So yes, this girl should be praised for what she has contained as the devil himself.
And come tomorrow, in our church, I shall release her from this evil.
Through the righteous power, these hands have been granted.
You all know this power.
Do it now.
Cure her or kill her makes no difference.
Preacher said tomorrow.
My predilection is today.
It's all right.
We're a family here, so let's put it to a vote.
All in favor of Willard's predilection here?
Huh?
No?
That is settled.
Tomorrow it is.
Now I want you all to go and pray, for I need every ounce of faith.
Come morning.
Come doctor, you'll be comfortable in our home.
She'll just be over here, you know?
Right now, sir.
Your mama fixed her, fixed him for you.
She loves you very much, no matter what.
There we are.
Oh, that's good.
There you go.
Here, go ahead.
No.
But, no bad habits, doctor.
I got plenty of those.
That's right.
Perhaps, instead, you might prefer a little of this.
You see, that is the wonder of modern invention.
Right here.
You ask it questions and it answers.
I believe that one day everyone will have one of these devices in their home.
And who knows, maybe even we'll walk around with them.
Tapping out messages.
I don't know what your play is, Ross.
All I know is I made a promise to that young girl's mother.
Oh, I'm very sorry.
Yes, these are simple people and I...
But I don't often have an occasion to converse with someone of intellect and reason.
As you can see my confidence, he's not much on idle conversation.
He had his tongue cut out when he was a boy.
There is such evil in this world.
I'm not particularly one for evil.
Mmm.
Sure.
This girl, she simply has a sickness just this year.
Poor daughter did, right?
Am I right?
That's right.
I will tell you, doctor, and others here will attest to this.
Miracles do happen.
And I have seen them.
These hands have been part of them.
I'm sure you've heard my stories.
Just as I've heard of yours.
Paul Tells and Fictions.
Yeah.
Faith is a currency of fools.
That's your belief, am I right, doctor?
Well, what if you're wrong?
What if there is evil in this world?
I'm not saying bad men.
I am saying true evil.
Evil of the purest form.
Well, doesn't that also mean there is good?
If there's shadow, there must be a light.
And if there is a hell, then there must be a heaven.
And if you can accept this, your loved ones,
your dear daughter, she's not dead and gone.
She's here.
She's living eternal.
She's at peace.
Can you allow yourself?
Just that flicker of hope.
For the briefest moment, could you also allow yourself to believe, to hope,
to even pray for evil?
Well, I promise you, tomorrow we shall free that girl.
And in the aftermath, you shall believe anew.
Amen.
You have my word.
Bull is the Bible.
Tomorrow.
Where is the girl?
She's sleeping.
I don't have to be.
I'm afraid it does, Doctor.
I tried to keep it from coming to this.
I sent Miss White here to keep that girl from ever showing up by my doorstep.
But we all know how that turned out, don't we?
She's just a girl.
Yeah, I've got a whole town full of people that believes that she's the devil.
They're fools.
On that, we both agree.
But I was going to look when I waved my hands over that little thing and a week
later, a flock of sheep just dropped dead.
The child gets healed.
The school barns just start choking up blood.
The good people of this community will think
me and Charlotte and they'll string me up.
There is one thing that I do believe, Doctor.
The ignorant.
You never fear the ignorant getting smart.
You fear the ignorant getting scared.
Please, we'll disappear.
Oh, no.
It's too late.
Cure her or kill her.
You hurt it yourself since I can't cure her.
I got this.
Evil son of a bitch.
Oh, come, Doctor.
We both know there's no evil.
He's a very bad man.
I say we put a bullet in him.
The desert does the killing, Miss White.
We merely set things in motion.
Well, look who it is.
You should be a sleep child.
Yes, hey, here.
Come on, get up on here.
There we go.
You know, why don't I read you a story?
You like stories, don't you?
Yeah.
My father, he used to read to me when I couldn't sleep, you know.
Back, that was a long, long time ago.
Yes, back when things were simpler.
Oh, now look, that is one of my favorites.
All right, here we go.
Eat your fall.
Annie.
You did the best you could.
I couldn't.
I couldn't save you.
You tried.
But I lost you.
But I lost your mother.
Everyone.
What was it you always told me?
About being a steel bender?
That some steel don't bend.
So break it.
What the hell is that?
The chef wants to know if we're in the need of more reliable security.
Tell that fucking gimp he's a fucking gimp.
Shit.
You're alive.
Hardly.
How did you find me?
You're an easy horse to track.
My sweet pea, where is she?
Is she all right?
Is she moving?
Oh, God forgive me.
I don't know what came over me.
Then what's in you?
One hit.
I don't know what should be in that pit.
Stop it.
That's idiot talk.
Come on.
I can't.
Not at all.
She's your daughter.
I can't.
You go.
Please go.
Don't.
Throw it over here.
Well, well, well.
Look at the cat.
You gonna shoot me, doctor?
I'm not gonna kill him.
I think Miss White would beg to differ.
The sheriff's on his way.
We'll be gone.
She's already gone, doctor.
We're gone.
Yeah, see, there was a glimmer of hope.
There's no shame in it.
I saw it in your eyes.
Please.
Clear this day.
I said quiet!
Look.
Doctor.
It's another miracle.
You sleep right there.
Yes.
They move.
Who are you?
Well, I've been so many different people.
I kind of lose track.
Who are you?
Oh.
That's right.
You're a poor man.
You don't have any family, do you?
Don't you come any closer.
And that, that is too much for one soul to bear.
Is there a comfort possible for you now?
Is it?
No comfort?
It's a shame it hasn't come to this.
Once word gets out about what you've done here, taking that little girl's life like
you did, they're going to have to take yours,
and they're going to put this evil to rest.
There you go.
There's no need to beg.
No.
No begging.
There's some things I've grown immune to.
It's all right.
You're going to leave that chair now.
Oh, God.
There.
I don't know.
No.
I'm sorry.
I don't feel right, Papa.
Some say the ghost of Preacher Ross still walks these hills.
Others say he wriggled away, like a worm cut into pieces.
But I couldn't tell you, and I was witness.
And in truth, perhaps we need people like him in this world.
The horror they inflict.
For their very existence, be it truly evil or not, may
be the only hope that tethers us to proof of the divine.